Edward Cheserek equals world 5km best in Carlsbad as Europe stages a number of high-quality marathons and half-marathons

While British eyes were on the ERRA Spring Road Relays at Sutton Coldfield, there were many other notable performances all over the world.

Carlsbad 5000, USA, April 7

Kenya’s Edward Cheserek won in 13:29 and equalled the world 5km record mark of Julian Wanders set in Monaco. The distance has only been regarded for world records in recent months and faster times set in previous years have been disregarded for record purposes.

Sharon Lokedi was first woman in 15:48 with Britain’s Charlotte Arter second in 16:01 while further Brits included Alice Wright 16:05 and Jenny Nesbitt 16:38.

Newly-crowned world masters indoors M40 1500m champion James Thie won the masters race in 15:48.

Cherry Blossom 10, USA, April 7

Rosemary Wanjiru set a world best of 50:42 to eclipse Sonia O’Sullivan’s 51:00 2002 time. It was the Kenyan’s first ever race longer than 10km, as Goytetom Gebrslase in 50:47 and Margaret Muriuku in 51:38 completed the women’s top three.

Behind, Steph Twell clocked 52:58 to go No.10 on the UK all-time rankings.

In the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer won in 45:36 to beat Kenya’s Josphat Tanui by a second, with Edwin Kibichiy third in 45:57. In fourth, former Kenyan Stanley Kebenei set a US record of 46:00.

IAAF Walks Grand Prix, Podebrady, Czech Republic, April 6

Vasiliy Mizinov, and authorised neutral athlete and the European bronze medallist, won the 87th event in 80:14 with Britain’s Callum Wilkinson sixth in 81:34 which is a UK under-23 record and moves him second all-time among UK seniors behind Tom Bosworth.

Italy’s Eleonora Giorgi won the women’s race in 1:27:48 while Heather Lewis was 12th in a PB 1:35:04 which consolidates her position as fifth all-time among British athletes.

Chris Snook was second in the under-20 10km in 43:37 which puts him third all-time among UK juniors.

ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon, April 7

There were 13095 finishers in the event and Jenny Spink won the women’s race in 2:35:19 with Fanni Gyurlo second in 2:39:51.

The first man to finish was Aaron Richmond of Bideford in 2:21:34 with Gareth Raven second on 2:26:07. Simon Lawson won the wheelchair marathon in 1:31:52.

Paddock Wood Half-Marathon, Kent, April 7

Top M40 Nick Torry won the men’s race in 65:34 by over a minute as Eilidh Bell won the women’s race in 79:03.

Victoria Park Harriers 5, April 6

Ahmed Abdulle won the men’s race in 25:19 with Paul Martelletti third in 25:49 having warmed up with 10 miles at the same pace as he did a marathon-paced run. Annabel Gummow won the women’s race in 28:09.

NN Rotterdam Marathon, Netherlands, April 7

Kenya’s Marius Kipserem broke the course record with a 2:04:11 PB made up of 62:17 and 61:54 half-marathon splits.

Kaan Kigen Ozbilen went second on the European all-time list behind Mo Farah with a Turkish record 2:05:26.

Kenyan Emmanuel Saina was third in 2:05:42 while Abdi Nageeye smashed the Dutch record with 2:06:18 to finish fourth and move to fourth on the European all-time list.

European champion Koen Naert just missed the Belgian record but was seventh in a PB 2:07:39.

Ethiopia’s Ashete Bekere won the women’s race in 2:22:55 ahead of Kenya’s Stella Barsosio (2:23:37) and Aliphine Tuliamuk from USA (2:26:48).

Sportisimo Prague Half-Marathon, Czech Republic, April 6

Benard Kimeli defended his title in a fast 59:07 and took 40 seconds off his PB as he defeated Felix Kibitok by a second and led a Kenyan sweep of the top five. Stephen Kiprop was third in 59:20.

Caroline Kipkirui won the women’s race in 65:44 half a minute in front of European 10,000m champion Lonah Salpeter, whose 66:09 was an Israeli record.

#PragueHalf the absolute winner of this year Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon is Benard Kimeli! Huge congratulations! pic.twitter.com/g8r5ZwQjaZ

— RunCzech (@RunCzech) April 6, 2019

Milan Marathon, Italy, Apr 7

Titus Ekiru with an even 2:04:46 and Vivian Kiplagat (2:22:55) broke the Italian all-comers’ records.

Evans Chebet (2:07:22) and Edwin Koech (2:08:24) completed a Kenyan men’s clean sweep while Kiplagat won by more than 10 minutes ahead of team-mate Joan Kigen (2:32:32).

#rp @milanomarathon
Titus Ekiru! ⚡️ 2h04’46’’ ⚡️ Nuovo record in Italia. @generaligroup #MilanoMarathon nella storia! Ph. Credits @endritmuhametaj https://t.co/t3pcGBOyQx pic.twitter.com/oMuDgvGaGQ

— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) April 7, 2019

Daegu Marathon, Korea, April 7

Kenya’s Filex Kipchirchir broke the course record with a 2:05:33 ahead of Ethiopia’s Shiferaw Tamru Aredo (2:06:21) with Uganda’s Fred Musobo third in 2:06:55.

Kenya’s Pamela Rotich won the women’s race in 2:28:10.

Vienna Marathon, Austria, April 7

Kenya’s Nancy Kiprop won her third title, breaking the long-standing course record with 2:22:12 ahead of team-mates Angela Tanui (2:25:37) and Maurine Chepkemoi (2:26:16).

In the men’s race, Kenya’s Vincent Kipchumba won in a PB 2:06:56 to defeat Switzerland’s Tadesse Abraham (2:07:24).

Rome Marathon, Italy, April 7

Tebalu Zawude won an Ethiopian-dominated race in 2:08:37 while Megertu Alemu won the women’s race in 2:22:52.

Hannover Marathon, Germany, April 7

Kenya’s Racheal Mutgaa broke the women’s course record in 2:26:15 while Silas Mwetich (2:09:37) won the men’s race.

Berlin Half-Marathon, Germany, April 7

European 5000m champion Sifan Hassan won in 65:45 as she won by more than three minutes.  The Dutch athlete went through 10km in 30:51 but drifted off world record pace in the latter stages.

Kenya’s William Wanjiku won a three-way sprint finish for the men’s race in 61:00.

Sifan wins the Generali Berlin Half Marathon in 1:05:46

Congrats @SifanHassan! pic.twitter.com/jnQn0Il9Jm

— Global Sports Comm (@GlobalSportsCom) April 7, 2019

Istanbul Marathon, Turkey, April 7

Ruth Chepngetich went 11th on the world all-time list with a 65:30 women’s victory. Fellow Kenyan Dorcas Jepchirchir was second in 66:33 with Ethiopian Helen Tola third in 66:45.

Kenya’s Benard Ngeno won the men’s race with 59:56, two seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Abayneh Degu, with Kenyan Hillary Kipchumba third in 60:01.

Australian Championships, April 7

Guesting world champion Tom Walsh of New Zealand won the shot put with world-leading 21.91m while Naa Anang took the women’s long jump with a wind-assisted 6.88m but also did a legal 6.81m to top the world rankings.

Lauren Wells won the 400m hurdles in 54.87 beating Portia Bing who clocked a New Zealand record of 55.86.

New Zealand 17-year-old Eddie Nketia won the 100m in 10.22 after a national junior record of 10.19 in the semi-final.

Chloe Tighe, a Herne Hill Harrier with a British coach (Geoff Jerwood), won the 1500m in 4:11.74.

At the Australian Track & Field Championships the Men’s Open Shot Put is underway.
Here is NZ athlete Tom Walsh throwing 21.91m
Tune in – https://t.co/vrSwjwZelb#thisisathletics pic.twitter.com/hHvu2iJm7A

— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) April 7, 2019

Charleston, USA, Apr 6

There were 10km wins for Silas Kipruto (27:58) and Monicah Ngige (31:37).

Tucson, April 6

There was a world-leading 12.87 in the 100m hurdles for Chanel Brissett of the United States.

Houston, April 6

USA’s Gwen Berry set a world-leading women’s hammer mark of 76.23m.

Tempe, April 6

There was a world lead in the women shot for American Chase Ealey who threw 19.67m.

British Masters 10km Championships, Blyth, April 7

M35 Richard Mair was the men’s winner in a fast 31:38 while World Championships marathoner Alyson Dixon was a clear women’s winner in 33:28.

World masters 1500m and 3000m champion Guy Bracken was first M55 in 34:31 while M75 1500m champion Victor Shirley was another back in action a week after winning gold in Poland as he triumphed in 45:27.

Multiple world champion Angela Copson – her range stretches from 400m to 10km – won the W70 gold in 45:05.

Other male age group winners included M40 John Butters (33:08), M45 Terry Scott (31:48), M50 Lee Bennett (33:55), Alastair Walker (35:18), M65 Stan Owen (39:14), M70 Alex Sutherland (40:56), M80 Walter Ryder (62:35) and M85 James Pittillo (64:59).

Other female age group gold medallists were W35 Elizabeth Renondeau (35:45), W45 Kathryn Stevenson (39:30), W50 Kath Davis (38:55), W55 Wendy Roethenbaugh (40:39), W60 Maggie Loraine (44:17), W65 Dorothy Kesterton (45:13).

Irish University Champs, Athlone, April 6

Phil Healy won the women’s 200m in 23.04 and the 100m in 11.51.

Parkrun, April 6

The fastest men’s time was by Andrew Heyes with 14:18 at Bakewell while the fastest woman was Naomi Taschimowitz who ran 16:44 at Hackney. The top age-graded run was by W65 Jeanette Craig who ran 22:12 at Springburn in Glasgow and achieved a 98.65% age-grading.

Former world number one Victoria Azarenka reached her first singles final in three years by defeating top seed Angelique Kerber at the Monterrey Open.

The Belarusian beat Kerber - another former world number one - 6-4 4-6 6-1.

She now faces Spain's Garbine Muguruza in Sunday's final in Mexico.

"I haven't won many of those in the last couple years so it's good that I'm able to turn it around and pick up my level," Azarenka said.

The 29-year-old last contested a singles final in April 2016, winning both Indian Wells and Miami within two weeks before announcing her pregnancy later that year and giving birth to son Leo in December.

She returned to the sport competitively the following summer but has been involved in a custody battle with the child's father which has impacted on her tennis.

"I'm getting back used to playing, and I'm trying to make better decisions, better choices under pressure," Azarenka said after her win against the German.

"It's all about taking one step at a time. To put it all together is always more tricky, so I'm glad that I'm able to put little pieces together in the important moments.

Former Wimbledon champion Muguruza earlier reached the final with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova.

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World number 253 Naiktha Bains has made a formal request to both the WTA and ITF to change her playing nationality from Australian to British.

Bains, 21, was born in Leeds but emigrated to Brisbane aged eight, and holds dual citizenship.

She has won two singles and 12 doubles titles on the ITF Tour.

Bains' situation is a reversal of that which saw Olympic silver medallist Laura Robson move to the UK aged six having been born in Melbourne.

The move to change her nationality has been made independent of the Lawn Tennis Association.

• Naiktha Bains - the one that got away
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Garbine Muguruza defended her Monterrey Open title after Victoria Azarenka was forced to retire with a leg injury.

Former world number one Azarenka, playing her first singles final in three years, required a medical timeout after losing the first set to have strapping applied to her right calf.

The Belarusian, 29, carried on but was clearly restricted before withdrawing when trailing 6-1 3-1.

"I'm very happy with this week," said Spain's Muguruza, 25.

"It's a great feeling to come back and defend a title - it's never easy."

It is two-time Grand Slam champion Muguruza's first title since winning in Mexico last year.

Azarenka last contested a singles final in April 2016, winning both Indian Wells and Miami within two weeks before announcing her pregnancy later that year and giving birth to son Leo in December.

She returned to the sport competitively the following summer but has been involved in a custody battle with her son's father which has impacted on her tennis.

• Live scores, schedule and results

Keys wins first clay title

Earlier, Madison Keys beat Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets to win the Charleston Open - her first title on clay.

The American, 24, won 7-6 (7-5) 6-3, hitting 54 winners against Danish fifth seed Wozniacki, the 2011 champion.

It marks a fourth career title for Keys and her first since 2017.

The eighth seed beat three Grand Slam champions - Wozniacki, Sloane Stephens and Jelena Ostapenko - en route to victory, as well as reigning Olympic champion Monica Puig.

Wozniacki - playing in her third Charleston final, having finished as runner-up in 2009 - said Keys was "just too good".

World number 18 Keys is the first American winner of the tournament since Stephens three years ago.

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Saurav Ghosal (File Photo)&  |  Photo Credit: PTI

Kolkata: Although he recently made history by becoming the first Indian male squash player to break into the top-10 of the PSA world rankings, Saurav Ghosal still rues the fact that the sport is not a part of the Olympic Games. "It's disappointing not only for me but every squash player around the world," Ghosal told IANS in an interview. He is on his way to Macau to take part in the Macau Open starting April 10. He is the second seed in that competition.

"It hurts to see squash not being part of the 2024 Olympics. We need to help the sport grow and Olympics is something every sportsperson looks forward to."

Ghosal said the plan is not to think of too far ahead now and keep working hard to stay where he is. The 32-year-old city-born player was the first Indian to be ranked World's No.1 junior.

"Obviously I am very happy to be in the top-10 of the PSA rankings. The journey has been really hard. I had to do well on a regular basis to attain this and this is why it is all the more fulfilling," said Ghosal, a 12-time national champion who has also won Asian Games medals on six occasions.

"I would want to continue doing well on the PSA circuit as it's important to stay consistent. There is no point in setting your sights on things which are too far ahead now. Taking it to step by step helps," he said.

Ghosal won the Kolkata International title in November last year here, to then enter the quarterfinals of the 2018-2019 PSA World Championships in Chicago for the first time in his career in February, and make the same stage at the prestigious Grasshopper Cup in Zurich last month.

Ghosal said he received a congratulatory message from brother-in-law Dinesh Karthik among others and was happy his team Kolkata Knight Riders were doing well in the ongoing Indian Premier League.

"It feels good when your family and near and dear ones support you. D.K. messaged me and I am happy for him as well as KKR is doing well."

For the record, Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Joshna Chinappa have both reached the highest ranking of world's no. 10 in 2012 and 2016, respectively.

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Sport is littered with tales of freak injuries, but perhaps none will ever be more bizarre than that of hooker Scott Baldwin, who hit global headlines in 2017 when he was bitten on the hand by a lion.

"When you put your hand in a fence where there is a lion, you will get bitten," then Ospreys coach Steve Tandy said at the time as the Welsh region worried that the Wales international might lose his hand, let alone his rugby career.

Baldwin's misfortune happened during a team trip to Weltevrede Game Lodge on the outskirts of Bloemfontein, before the Ospreys' Pro14 match against their appropriately named hosts, the Cheetahs.

Everyone present on the visit was, according to Tandy, given plenty of warning not to stick their hand into the lion's den, but Baldwin did not heed the advice.

• Ouch! Freak sporting injuries
• Scott Baldwin: Ospreys player feared he could lose hand after lion bite

Not only was he bitten, he quickly developed an infection.

"The infection was the major issue," Baldwin told BBC Sport at the time.

"The next day it started tracking up my arm. The surgeon said there was a chance I could lose my hand.

"The surgeon said [after the operation] it was the best possible outcome considering I had been bitten by a lion."

Thankfully Baldwin made a full recovery and now, with the Ospreys again in Bloemfontein for Saturday's 31-14 win over the Cheetahs he has taken the chance to personally thank the surgeon, Faf Weyers, who was presented with Baldwin's match shirt following the victory.

"Faf literally saved my hand, thank you my man," Baldwin wrote on social media.

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The Dragons' long search for an away victory in the Pro14 continued, although they did fight back to earn an 18-18 draw with Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.

Their last league success on the road was a 32-17 victory over Benetton in Treviso on 28 March 2015.

They briefly led in South Africa but trailed 13-8 at the break and 18-8 at one stage in the second half.

But the Dragons fought back with a Jordan Williams try and two penalties.

The Welsh region made a confident start, claiming the first try of the match through centre Adam Warren.

Josh Lewis started the move by chipping for the corner and wing Hallam Amos showed his exceptional skill by taking the high ball and unloading perfectly to Warren who dived over.

Lewis missed the conversion by a distance, but he did add to the Dragons' advantage with a penalty.

However, the Welsh region could not sustain their fast start and were soon behind.

First scrum-half Stefan Ungerer dived over a ruck to touch down and although Maixole Banda was off target with the conversion attempt, Bjorn Basson scored another try within three minutes with Ungerer the provider.

A penalty from Bader Pretorius extended the lead to 13-8 at the interval.

The hosts added to their advantage when centre Harlon Klaasen crossed, although Pretorious missed the extras on a day where neither side shone with their kicking.

The Dragons desperately needed a score and found one when replacement Jordan Williams collected a loose ball 40 metres out and danced through for a superb solo effort, with Lewis adding the extras to make it 18-15.

Rhodri Williams then thought he had given Dragons the advantage once more, but Jack Dixon's pass to him was adjudged by the TMO to have been forward.

A bad-tempered second half meant at one point there were only 26 men on the field with both sides reduced to 13.

Opposing props Tshakweni Alulutho and Leon Brown were yellow carded for scrum infringements and Dragons prop Lloyd Fairbrother and Kings wing Michael Makase sin-binned for acts of dangerous play.

Both sides were at full strength when the visitors nicked a draw as Brown won a penalty and Lewis landed the kick from 40 metres out.

The Kings remain one point ahead of the Dragons at the bottom of Conference B.

Southern Kings: Banda; Penxe, H Klaasen, Kruger, Basson; Pretorius, Ungerer; Ferreira, Willemse, Terblanche, Van Schalkwyk, Astle (capt), Ntsila, Burger, Lerm.

Replacements: Van Rooyen, Tshakweni, Scholtz, Greeff, De Wit, Van Rooyen, B Klaasen, Beyers.

Dragons: Kirchner; Rosser, Warren, Dixon, Amos; Lewis, R Williams; Harris, Hibbard (c), Brown, M Williams, Screech, Wainwright, Basham, Moriarty.

Replacements: Lawrence, Bevington, Fairbrother, Taylor, Greggains, Knoyle, Tovey, J Williams.

Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Paul Mente (SARU)

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (SARU)

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A first-half hat-trick from Mark Atkinson saw Gloucester strengthen their play-off credentials with an impressive victory at Northampton.

The centre was backed up by scores from Ruan Ackermann, Ed Slater and Franco Marais in an entertaining encounter.

Northampton also scored five tries of their own through Taqele Naiyaravoro, Piers Francis, Cobas Reinach, Reece Marshall and Rory Hutchinson.

Gloucester have an 11-point lead over Sale in fifth with four games left.

The Cherry and Whites also recorded a third Premiership win in a row for the first time since December 2017 and inflicted just a second home defeat in all competitions this season on Saints.

Northampton remain seventh and will hope not to be sucked into the relegation battle below them, although they hold a healthy 13-point cushion over bottom side Newcastle Falcons.

They still have to travel to Worcester and Newcastle in the bottom two in their last four games as well as host play-off contenders Harlequins and leaders Exeter.

Saints did claim a try bonus point and looked on course for more when winger Naiyarovoro and centre Francis twice put them ahead early on.

But Gloucester showed a clinical edge in the Saints 22 as they kept the hosts at arm's length once Atkinson's second try of the game after 15 minutes put them into a lead they would not relinquish.

The only thing to mar their victory were second-half injuries to fly-half Danny Cipriani (groin), winger Charlie Sharples (ankle) and full-back Tom Hudson (shoulder).

Northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd:

"We knew what was going on, but we just didn't deal with it. We still haven't got the necessary accuracy when we come under pressure.

"We have never discussed a finishing position, but we've slipped to seventh.

"We have four games to play, two against sides above us and two below, who are fighting for their lives, so it will be an interesting end to the season."

Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann:

"We are not getting over-excited but it's a nice position to be in. But with four games to go, there are still a lot of teams on our tail.

"Mark (Atkinson) caught my eye when I first came to the club and we've always believed in him. He has all the skill as well as being a big physical presence.

"He's now had a good run of games and has developed a good understanding with Danny (Cipriani) and Billy (Twelvetrees) as a midfield trio."

On the initial post-match injury news: "It's the wrong time of the year to pick up injuries. We can't speculate on the extent of them as we will have to wait for scans on Monday.

"Danny (Cipriani) has a groin problem, but hopefully as we brought him off early he will be okay, but Tom Hudson's shoulder and Charlie Sharples' ankle will have to be assessed."

Northampton: Furbank; Tuala, Hutchinson, Francis, Naiyaravoro; Biggar, Reinach; Van Wyk, Marshall, Hill, Moon, Lawes, Ludlam, Brussow, Harrison (capt).

Replacements: Dawidiuk, Waller, Franks, Ratuniyarawa, Gibson, Mitchell, Burrell, Pisi.

Sin-bin: Naiyaravoro (29 mins).

Gloucester: Hudson; Banahan, Twelvetrees, Atkinson, Sharples; Cipriani, Heinz (capt); Hohneck, Marais, Balmain, Slater, Mostert, Ackermann, Kriel, Morgan.

Replacements: Sherry, Rapava Ruskin, Dreyer, Savage, Clarke, Polledri, Braley, Seabrook.

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys.

For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter.

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BRASELTON, Ga. – Yoshimura Suzuki’s Toni Elias won his first race of the MotoAmerica EBC Brakes Superbike Series season Saturday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

The Spaniard bested Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz by 1.839 seconds under sunny skies on the final day of the Suzuki Championship.

The win, combined with his second place from Saturday, gives Elias the early lead in the EBC Brakes Superbike Championship with 45 points – four more than Saturday’s winner Cameron Beaubier, who was third Sunday.

As was the case yesterday, the Superbike race began with six riders running together at the front with those three – Elias, Scholtz and Beaubier – joined by Beaubier’s Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing teammate Garrett Gerloff, Attack Performance Estenson Racing’s J.D. Beach and Yoshimura Suzuki’s Josh Herrin.

Gerloff was the first to have issues, the Texan slowed by a front fender flapping in the wind. Despite repeated attempts at kicking the bodywork off his bike, Gerloff eventually had to pull over to remove the fender. He would continue onward and eventually finish ninth.

Herrin, meanwhile, lacked the pace to stay with the top four with the race coming down to just three in the final laps as the trio pulled slightly clear of Beach. Then both Beaubier and Scholtz were bauked badly by a back marker with two laps to go, costing them any shot at Elias and also allowing Beach to move to the tail of the battling duo. Scholtz ended up getting the edge on Beaubier to take second with Beach finishing just .3 of a second off the back of the defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion.

Apparently, the birth of his son just a few weeks ago hasn’t slowed Elias who leaves the opening round with the points lead for the fourth straight season.

“Everybody was telling me that,” Elias said of his pace being slowed with having a child. “I was kind of worried. When he was born, in my head I said, ‘what the heck? Now I have a really strong reason to fight for,’ so that’s what happened. I’m super motivated. I didn’t slow down. So, I’m happy. This winter the team worked so good. But, honestly, I was thinking to be more comfortable in these first rounds. Last year to be more competitive we took a good direction. I was thinking this would change a little bit… but then we arrive here and seems different… all the time the bike is moving a lot around. We were going to do some changes for this morning, but we couldn’t try anything. For everybody it was the same. Same tire. Harder than yesterday. I was not thinking yesterday to do that slow pace. I think it’s the race. A little bit frustrated. I couldn’t do what I wanted.

“In the mid part of the race I started to lose a lot of grip, maybe less than J.D. and Mathew. But Cameron was so strong. I missed something there. Anyway, for today I was going to use the same tire as Dunlop wanted, and it was really good. The tire has been super consistent all the race, but we still have to improve in some areas. Anyway, yesterday 20 points. Could be zero. Now 25 (points), so perfect Sunday.”

In Supersport, Saturday’s second-place finisher Bobby Fong came back strong on Sunday and notched the race win aboard his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki. Second-place finisher P.J. Jacobsen kept Fong honest throughout the majority of the 18-lap race to record his first MotoAmerica podium result in his second race aboard his Celtic HSBK Racing Yamaha.

Hudson Motorcycles – HB Racing Yamaha rider Richie Escalante finished third and dedicated the race to his grandfather after getting the sad news earlier in the day that he had passed away.

In Liqui Moly Junior Cup, Saturday’s race winner Rocco Landers did the double and got the win on Sunday aboard his Landers Racing Kawasaki. Almost a carbon copy of yesterday, he got a great jump off the line from the pole position, led the 11-lap race from start to finish, and pulled a gap of nearly five seconds.

Dallas Daniels, the second-place finisher from Saturday’s race, once again finished second on Sunday aboard his Quarterley Racing/On Track Development Kawasaki. Altus Motorsports rider Kevin Olmedo finished third to complete the podium.

Last year’s Stock 1000 champion Andrew Lee got his 2019 season off to a flying start with a win in Sunday’s race. The Northern Californian is defending his title aboard his No. 1 Franklin Armory/Graves Kawasaki, and he stalked second-place finisher Michael Gilbert, who led the majority of the race on his Team Norris Racing Kawasaki until Lee made his decisive move and took the checkers. MESA37 Racing’s Stefano Mesa came in third, making it a Kawasaki podium sweep.

The same podium finishers in Saturday’s Twins Cup race were again on the podium in Sunday’s race, and Quarterley Racing Ducati rider Michael Barnes was the race winner for the second day in a row. Barnes once again showed that experience (age) is the secret to success as he had the measure of his competitors. Defending class champ Chris Parrish improved on his Saturday third-place result by finishing second on Sunday aboard his Ghetto Customs Suzuki, and RBoM Racing’s Curtis Murray rounded out the podium in third.

The post Elias Shines In MotoAmerica Superbike Action appeared first on SPEED SPORT.

THOMPSON, Conn. — Justin Bonsignore has become the modern day master of Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

The Holtsville, New York, driver scored his fifth straight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win at Thompson on Sunday afternoon in the Icebreaker 150. The victory allowed Bonsignore to become the first driver in the history of Whelen Modified Tour action at the historic Connecticut oval to win five straight.

It was the 10th career Thompson win for the defending series champion, and his 21st overall.

“We’ve had speed at every race so far,” Bonsignore said. “I just said that we had to put together a full race and execute. You have to have a little bit of luck to go your way, and we finally got some this year.”

After Doug Coby won his second Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole Award and led the first 107 laps, the race took a turn for Bonsignore when the field slowed for a caution at lap 99. Bonsignore followed Coby down pit road for fresh tires, and although Coby did beat him off pit road, a penalty for running over his air hose sent Coby to the rear of the field.

While Coby fought back to finish fifth, Bonsignore took the advantage for the restart, and held off South Boston Speedway winner Ron Silk during a green-white-checkered finish to continue his Thompson dominance.

Coby and Bonsignore paced the entire weekend, running first and second, in that order, for both practice sessions and qualifying.

“It would have been a good race, neither one of us would have given an inch, I know that,” Bonsignore said of what would have been with Coby. “We were so close all weekend. I’ve won a bunch here and some of them are just on luck. You have to put yourself in position, and my team always does.”

Silk, who qualified ninth, got back to the track in third following the pit stop, and when Coby was sent to the tail, the former series champion was in position for his second place effort.

“Things are going good,” Silk said. “It’s nice to get a win and back that up with a second today. It’s good for the guys on the team. They are all pumped up.”

Eric Goodale was third, while Patrick Emerling and Coby, who was able to work his way back up through the field, completed the top five. After three races, Coby holds a slim seven point lead in the Whelen Modified Tour championship standings.

The finish:

Justin Bonsignore, Ron Silk, Eric Goodale, Patrick Emerling, Doug Coby, Burt Myers, Matt Swanson, Woody Pitkat, Chris Pasteryak, Jimmy Blewett, Sam Rameau, Kyle Benjamin, Craig Lutz, Kyle Bonsignore, Timmy Solomito, Blake Barney, Jon McKennedy, Tommy Catalano,  Calvin Carroll, Dave Sapienza, J.B. Fortin Jr., Timmy Catalano, Ken Heagy, Anthony Nocella, Wade Cole, Melissa Fifield, Andrew Krause, Rob Summers.

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